Good Morning, Crinum!

My best guess is that this is a Crinum 'Stars and Stripes' C. × digweedii (C. erubescens × C. scabrum). If anyone out there who knows more these plants can ID it, I would greatly appreciate it!

Update on the Crinum

I love this plant so much I want to jump on Oprah's couch.

Butterfly Hunting

Me and my daughter went butterfly hunting this morning. Don't worry, we only shot them with the camera. Even though I have fewer butterfly plants this year, I've noticed a ton of butterflies. A lot of different varieties too. Of course, when we sit in the garden, patiently waiting for a butterfly to flutter by, there none but this little dull one. Oh well, I did some seriously cute pictures of my daughter. The garden looks like a jungle from this angle:

Caught Red Handed

I knew something was eating my plants. The ginger was munched on, and a small banana plant was chewed to the ground. I blamed it on my husband, but I figured it was the work of a opossum that took up residence under the shed. This morning I woke and found the real culprit caught in the act:

On one hand, I'm sure the poor thing is thirsty. It hasn't really rained here in about a month and a half. On the other hand, when he munches on it tomorrow, I think it will have a distinct chili pepper kick to it.

It is a Gardening-poloza in here!

I have three days off - in a row - so I have a lot of stuff I want to accomplish:

1. Start a new circular bed in the corner garden
2. Get landscaping timbers for the corner garden
3. Remove the other bananas (finally)
4. Weed the front garden bed
5. Fertilize with fish emulsion
6. Laundry (I was told I need to make some time for that.)
7. Watch my crinum (above) bloom
   

Hey Anonymous!

Whoever identified the Medinilla in the Gainesville Butterfly Rainforest- THANK YOU! I've been wondering about that plant for almost a year.

I Love This Time of Year

I love this time of year! I don't feel totally depressed every time go out to the garden. The butterfly garden is looking pretty decent right now. The only flaw (and isn't there always one?) is the empty trellis where the passion vine just isn't taking off. The Stargazer lilies are beautiful and the pink guara by the bird bath have gotten very tall and spread nicely. But nothing compares to finding a little surprise like this one:
One of my Crinums, one of the ones I was pretty sure I killed, HAS A BUD!! I'm SO excited I'M USING CAPS!!!! (You'll be seeing more of this plant in the near future.)

Blooming Gifts from my Garden

I came home to presents this evening:

Canna 'Tropicanna'

Stargazer Lily #1

Stargazer Lily #2

Update on the Butterfly Garden

Just when I've written off a plant, it goes and does something that redeems itself. I was ready to tear out all of the lantana this year, just because it was ready to take over things. But check out that pink! I don't remember planting lantana that pink. And its a color after my own heart. I took a bunch of cuttings today, so hopefully I'll have more shortly.Here's an update of the Butterfly Garden. It is still a bit messy looking and I'm not sure how to fix that.

But next week should be pretty - my stargazer lilies are all set to bloom.

Update of the Pool Garden

The cannas are about to bloom. I should have some pretty pictures this week.

The pool garden is looking pretty good. Yes, the bananas are still there. I love when they look alive. I'm not sure when I'll pull them out.